Managing nuclear knowledge - A government perspective

Full text: science and technology has come to the present level as a result of research and development carried over several decades. Many research reactors as well as other major experimental facilities have been built around the world and major nuclear research centers have grown around such facilities. These centers have played an important role in the development, demonstration and deployment of nuclear technologies and have enabled scientific enquiry and technology development to be pursued in a synergistic manner. As a result of these efforts, a sound theoretical base, a variety of skills and several technological processes have evolved. All these together comprise nuclear knowledge, and what has been painstakingly acquired has to be preserved. Knowledge generated at research centers or laboratories has been exploited by governments for the welfare of the people and by industry for economic growth. Ensuring adequate funding for generic research has been a government responsibility, while industry has concentrated on customizing the outcome of generic research for the development of specific goods and services. During periods of growth of a given technology, R and D funding naturally takes place. However, difficulties arise during periods of stagnation and it is during such periods that governments have to step in with a long term perspective. Think tanks also have to help in identification of issues involved and provide directions for the future. All around the world, there is a growing chorus of voices about issues related to sustainability. One has to remember that sustainability issues, while they arise as a result of economic and other evolutionary processes that come about as a result of technology, their solution also lies in technology itself. For example, application of technology to agriculture has ensured that in spite of continuous growth of population, hunger is not as prevalent as predicted. However, new sustainability issues have arisen and have to be solved. Increase in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the use of fossil fuels is also one such issue. It has not happened overnight, but over several decades. Indiscriminate use of plastics, increase in generation of all types of industrial wastes are some other issues. The issue of nuclear waste, however, has attracted disproportionate adverse attention in spite of the availability of technological fixes, a situation far better than many other similar issues. All these issues need to be addressed on the basis of available knowledge and continuous research. The research activity aimed at finding a long term solution for nuclear waste has been highlighted by the nuclear industry out of genuine concern for human welfare and scientific solutions now exist and what is needed is the political will to implement the scientific decisions. Thus, it would appear that development imperatives would drive evolution and deployment of technologies. The driver could be the industry or the government depending on the gestation period involved. In either case there has to be an in-built process to assess the short and long term implications. The governments have thus to facilitate knowledge management for the purpose of sustainable development particularly when the long term issues have to be addressed. The atomic energy programme in India has been very successful, and the two factors which have been crucial to this success are technology management within the conglomerate of institutions of the Department of Atomic Energy in India and policies followed for human resource development. In both areas we have followed innovative approaches. For technology management, we have set up a variety of organizations to manage the complete chain involving research, development, demonstration and deployment under a single umbrella. For meeting our need of specialized manpower, we have followed the 'Hire and Train' approach. Since our programme is expanding, young professionals are being inducted on a regular basis. Therefore, tacit knowledge and skills are also getting continuously passed on to the new generation of scientists and engineers. However, in the case of nations, where for various reasons young professionals are not getting attracted towards nuclear science and technology, the situation is difficult. While actions are required to ensure continuity of knowledge through induction of young people, there is also a need to document all the available knowledge base and that is where the Agency comes in. Knowledge preservation programme initiated by the Agency, organization of this meeting and the recently completed evaluation of INIS are steps in the right direction and need to be supported. We are willing to share our training facilities with other nations and we have already signed an agreement with the Agency in this regard. (author)